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Announcement: Nishijima Gudo Wafu Roshi has Passed.

I have just received the news that my Teacher, and Taigu's Teacher's Teacher, NISHIJIMA GUDO WAFU, passed from this visible world.

A funeral will be conducted next week here in Tokyo. I will also be writing with information on a Memorial for Roshi here at Treeleaf.

Gudo Wafu Nishijima (西嶋愚道和夫) was born November 29, 1919. He Practiced Zazen for over 70 years. He was a teacher to Zen students from around the world, and a translator of Buddhist texts from Japanese and Sanskrit. A student of “Homeless” Kodo Sawaki, the itinerant master famous for his efforts to restore Zazen to its place as the center of Buddhist practice, Master Nishijima shared in that philosophy. Master Nishijima was ordained and received Dharma Transmission from the late Master Rempo Niwa, abbot of Eihei-ji temple and head of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. Gudo Nishijima wrote and translated many books on Buddhism in both Japanese and English, including full translations of Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo (with Chodo Cross) and Shinji Shobogenzo.

A short film of Roshi Just Sitting, by my Dharma Brother, Gustav Ericsson ...

I would like to invite all to watch a documentary about Master Nishijima filmed a few years ago. It begins iat the Zen Dojo that Roshi established and maintained for many years near Tokyo, and continues at our root temple of the Tokei-in in Shizuoka, Japan, and during a Teaching tour by Roshi in Europe. In the opening minutes, he is heard in his office with my Dharma Brother, Peter, discussing Birth and Death as Just This Moment.

(I am pleased to say that a younger me was at that retreat, seen carrying a blackboard with Roshi's Teaching of "REALITY" ). I believe this film truly captures Nishijima Roshi's personality and energy.

It is now our turn to live the teachings - the best tribute to him we could give. Why should we feel any differently now than we did before he passed from this world? Sadness, yes, but also a feeling of gratitude and celebration on a daily basis for what he has given us - it is not "ours" but we have a duty to cultivate, nurture, and live in the flowing stream of these teachings.

It was through his work on the Shinji Shobogenzo that I made my way to Treeleaf. Thank you all - Nishijima Sensei, Jundo, Taigu, and my sisters and brothers at Treeleaf.

This is really sad news.
As Yugen said, the best way we can honor Nishijima Roshi is living according to his teachings that he passed on to our teachers.
He lives on in Jundo, Taigu and everyone who studied under him, read the English translation of the Shobogenzo or listened to his talks. He will not be forgotten.

As a practitioner of Zen who has benefited from Nishijima Roshi both directly through the written word and indirectly through Jundo, Taigu, and, yes, even Brad, I understand that we all disappear from this visible world. The cycle of life and death can create great suffering and only by being aware of that suffering can we find peace.

But I am so very sad...as it should be when any of us die.

Infinite bows to Gudo Wafu and all he touched so deeply. Your loss will be in my thoughts.

Deep bows in gratitude for his guidance, teachings and writing that took so much work and is so readily available for us now. A great legacy. Also metta to Jundo, Taigu and all those who were closest to him.

I just saw the news on /r/Buddhism on reddit. Metta to Nishijima Roshi's family, friends, and students (which is ultimately all of us I guess).

Originally Posted by Yugen

It is now our turn to live the teachings - the best tribute to him we could give. Why should we feel any differently now than we did before he passed from this world? Sadness, yes, but also a feeling of gratitude and celebration on a daily basis for what he has given us - it is not "ours" but we have a duty to cultivate, nurture, and live in the flowing stream of these teachings.

It was through his work on the Shinji Shobogenzo that I made my way to Treeleaf. Thank you all - Nishijima Sensei, Jundo, Taigu, and my sisters and brothers at Treeleaf.

^^^ This. So much this. Thank you Yugen.

Deep bows.

sekishi
石志

As a novice priest-in-training, this is simply an expression of my opinion. Please take it with a grain of salt.

A sad day for all whom he touched through his tireless teaching. I stopped when I read the news of his passing and thought if it wasn't for Master Nishijima's spreading the Darhma I may not have had the chance to practice this way. I truly feel blessed for all teachers who have come before, all who share our time/ space ( deep bows to Jundo and Taigu ), and all who are yet to be.
Gassho, Jakudo.

Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk

Gassho, Shawn Jakudo Hinton
It all begins when we say, “I”. Everything that follows is illusion.
"Even to speak the word Buddha is dragging in the mud soaking wet; Even to say the word Zen is a total embarrassment."
寂道

So sad to hear the news of the passing of this great and humble teacher, Gudo Nishijima Roshi. Metta to his family and all that mourn in his passing from this visible life. My humble condolences to Jundo, Taigu, and also to Brad.

Gassho,
Heishu

平
秀“Blessed are the flexible, for they never get bent out of shape." Author Unknown

This word passed on from one of Nishijima Roshi's Japanese students about his last moments ...

===============

Yesterday I talked with master Nishijima's daughter.

She said that she had heard the last word of Sensei from his nurse.
When the nurse tried to attach oxygen mask on Sensei,
he rejected it and said.
'I decide my death time by myself'
We will attend The funeral ceremony on February 4th and 5th.